Terming the investment climate in India as 'very favourable,' NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has said that 'too much' was being made out of the criticism by Left party allies of the United Progressive Alliance government policies.
"Too much is being made out of what the Left parties are saying. They are only emphasising that there should be a human touch to any economic reform and it should reach the ordinary man," Lord Paul, who is heading a six-member visiting British Parliamentary delegation, told a group of journalists in New Delhi.
He was asked about the stiff opposition from the Left parties coming in the way of the government's economic reforms process.
"I don't find anything wrong with their taking up issues. In a democracy, you can't steamroll the public opinion. You have to respect it," he said.
Describing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a man of integrity, Lord Paul said this has won him respect all over the world and raised India's level in the comity of nations.
"India is looked all over the world today as a country on the go," Lord Paul, whose Caparo group is looking at investments in eastern India, Madhya Pradesh and Chennai, said.
Describing West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya as a 'wonderful CM,' he said the state has done extremely well on the economic front in the last four years.
Seventy-one year old Lord Paul, who has handed over reins of the $1.3 billion Caparo Group to his sons, said a tool room for research would be set up in Madhya Pradesh and a deal was being finalised for putting up an aluminium casting unit as well as an R&D centre in Chennai.
Asked about the Caparo Group evincing interest in taking control of ailing tyre maker Dunlop India, Lord Paul said an application has been filed before the BIFR but did not elaborate.
"We are very keen on (doing business in) India. Things are changing rapidly for the better in this country," he said.
The Caparo Group, the largest 100 per cent-owned British company in Britain, intends to have a turnover of Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) from its India operations in the next three years.
Lord Paul said the British Parliamentary delegation would meet on Tuesday Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. They would also be travelling to Jaipur, Agra, Mumbai as also Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, the birth place of Lord Paul's mother, where they will have a first hand assessment of rural India.
Dismissing fears of any backlash on the large Asian community in Britain in the wake of the July bomb blasts, he said "there is a lot of regard and respect for the Asian community; their contribution is immense and Britain recognises it."
On concerns over "home-grown terrorists" in Britain, he said a bill against terrorism would come up next week in Parliament. It would not be "anti any community," he said.
Lord Paul said efforts were in the direction to ensure that freedom of individuals was not curbed in any manner and, at the same time, those wanting to disturb peace were not allowed to do so.
How to look after some of the aspects that can incite terrorism were being discussed, he said contending that "it becomes very, very difficult to control the scourge if terrorists decide to commit suicide."
He was of the view that it was easier to control "home grown terrorists" than "imported terrorists."
About concerns in Britain over outsourcing, he said this process cannot be stopped. "Globalisation cannot take place without movement of people."
On an eight-day trip, the British team led by Lord Paul comprises Roberta Blackman-woods, Helen Jones and Lynne Jones, all from Labour Party, James Duddridge and Peter Luff, both Conservative.
